With the recent 1.09 patch, Horizon Forbidden West wants to look like new. Or at least refine his technique, already at a very high level. During our test last February, we noted “superb” graphics and more generally an unfailing visual ambition, giving a “dantesque and masterful second wind” to the universe installed by Horizon Zero Dawn , the previous episode. But we also stopped on a PS5 version that could still be improved, especially in Performance mode (1800p / 60 fps) where aliasing – the staircase effect on certain 3D models – and flickering are noticed very quickly, which is less the case in the Resolution mode (native 4K / 30 fps). And it’s been some time since the studioGuerrilla Games, developer of Horizon Foribbden West, is working on the subject . At the beginning of March, patch 1.07 already had, among other objectives, “to improve the quality of the image in Performance mode”, and the latest update 1.09 continues the efforts in this direction.
SO, MORE BEAUTIFUL OR NOT?
To see what has changed, we went to the first area of the game, a stone’s throw from the town of Scoroc. A place particularly loaded with vegetation, small as fleshy, and a bunch of other elements that can cause aliasing, flickering, especially in Performance mode on PS5. While originally we weren’t very far from the fireworks of graphical micro-bugs, the display now seems cleaner , even if the problems mentioned above are still noticeable, especially with regard to the clumps of grass on the ground and the trees in the distance. Certainly there is still work to do on this point, but Guerrilla Games is on the spot: “The team continues to make adjustments with the aim of reducing flicker”can we learn from the sidelines of the last patch. Also note that these pitfalls are less noticeable in Resolution mode, certainly in 30 frames per second, but with native 4K, and logically less aliasing. On the other hand, there is still popping (elements which appear without warning on the horizon) in one case as in the other.
A BEAUTIFUL PATH TRAVELED
Obviously, aside from the technical aspect, the successive patches of Horizon Forbidden West have solved a whole series of problems, in particular sound bugs which could still recently taint the immersion – we had for example had the case of a character whose line of dialogue could still be heard in the distance, even from miles away – just like more constraining things, able to block the player in a quest. The first and second updates have thus proven to be particularly effective.on that side. Also note the third patch, at the beginning of March, which brought an improved photo mode in addition to the fixes. Only positive things to pave the months after the release. And it’s probably not over. See you in the next few months.